Lubricating apparatus



F. S. BARKS LUBRIQCATING APPARATUS J Filed March 12, 1928 4 Sheets-SheetF S. BARKS LUBRICATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 12, 19281930- F. s. BARKs LUBRICAT I NG APPARATUS Filed March 12, 1928 v 4Sheets-Sheet s Aug 19, 1930. F. s. BARKs 1,773,660

LUBRICATING APPARATUS Filed March 12, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 PatentedAug. 19, 1930 PATENT OFFICE FRANK 's. BARKS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURILUBRICATIN G APPARATUS Applicationfiled March 12,1928. Serial No.260,884.

This invention relates to lubricating apparatus and with :regard tocertain more specific features, to a 'n'essure lubricating device. forgrease andlike. I a

Among the severalobjects .of the invention may be noted the provision ofa pressure i'eed grease pump having maximum safety and economy in theuse of the pressiu'e'tluid; the provision of a dependable pump of theclass described. which is rugged in construction and simple in operationhaving a minimum munber of parts adapted to be economicallyi'nanutactured. Other objects will be in part obvious and in partpointed outhere- 1.3 matter.

The invention accordingly con'iprises the. elements and combinations ofelements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which willbe exemplified in the structure. hereinafter (-lescribed. and the scopeof the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings. in which is illustrated one. of variouspossible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of the apparatus. parts beingbroken away;

Fig. Qis a foreshortened sectional view of the apparatus. portions beingbroken away,

the view being taken substantially on line Fig. 23 is a cross sectiontaken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on 37 line -t't of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is ayertical section taken through certain pressure apparatus perse. the View forming a contimiation at 90 of the parts broken away inFig. 1 on line Fig. 6 a cross section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a pressure cylinder; i

Fig. 8 is a cross section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 5: i

Fig. 9 is a cross of Fig.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical section of a two-piece piston. showinga separated relation thereof;

section taken on line 9-9 Fig. 11 is a cross section taken on line 11-11of Fig. 7 and shows an air valve in a down stroke position; and

Fig. 12 is an enlarged vertical sectionl. showing said air valve in anup stroke position.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1. there is illustrated a pumpand engine mechanism of theclass described more particularly in myPatents 1.654573 and 1.633.301. dated January 3, 1928, and June 21.1927. respectively.

Broadly speaking, the above, pump and engine mechanism 1 comprises aframe 8 sup porting a gr -ase chamber 5 from which grease is adapted tobe pumped through a cylinder 7 having a reciprocating piston or ram 9therein. the latter being operable to be re ciprocated by; means of anair engine 11.

The. air engine 11 receives compressed air by way of an air hose 13 anda full-stroke automatic valve mechanism 15, the latter also functioningas an exhaust. As described in said patents. the operation of the engineis such that air led into the cylinder of the engine pushes the pistonthereof to the right (Fig. 1). so that the ram 9 functions to ejectgrease from the cylinder 7 to a flexible line 17 by way of a checlrvalve19, that is, when a valve or gun which is placed in line 17 (not shown)is in open position. lvhen said valve is shut. pumping automaticallyceases and when it is opened. pumping automatically commences. Automaticreturn strokes of the air engine are etlected by means of a returnspring 21 in the engine cylinder.

I have redescribed the above elements. for the sake of convenience inreading this description. Further details appear-in said patents.

The air line 13 provides a continuous sup ply of air pressure at a port23 of the valve mechanism. This port is in continuous communication withan air line 25 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 4). The line 25 can be inflexible andleads into communication with a hollow hinge pin 27, the latter pinforming a pivot lUt , head or cover 29 thereon.

The swing cover 29 is adapted to rotate in a substantially horizontalplane on the pin 27 so as to open and close the preferably verticalcontainer 5. Opposite the pin 27, on the container 5, are formed a pairof lugs 31 carrying a hinged draw bolt 33 to which bolt is outwardlythreaded a hand wheel 35 for the purpose of engaging and clamping downon an extending fork 37 of the cover 29 when said cover is in closedposition over the container.

The hinge pin 27 is likewise provided with a threaded hand wheel 39 forpermitting and reventing the swivel action and for drawmg down the head.The hand wheel 39 is not necessar and can be a fixed bolt withpredetermine clearance for permitting rotation. Washers under the wheels35, 39 facilitate the o ration and reduce wear. A stop pin 41 ig. 6) isthreaded through a lug on the head 29 and extends downwardly to engage aportion of one of the lugs 31 for purposes of aligning the bore 43 ofthe head 29 with the bore 45 of the container 5, that is, when they arein enclosed osition. A bevel edge 47 at the upper end oi the bore 45serves purposes to be described.

The purpose of the swing head or cover 29 is to carry an air cylinder49, including a cylinder head 51. Within the air cylinder 49 is slidablycarried a piston 53 to which is fastened a piston rod 55. The rod 55 ishollow for purposes of lightness only and does not serve as a passagefor fluids. The fastening bolts 57 at both ends are solid. This istonrod 55 passes from the cylinder 49 and through the cover 29 by way of asuitable stufling gland 59. At the lower end of the rod 55 is carried alubricant follower 61,

the construction of which is new per se and will be described more inparticular hereinafter.

Referring to Figs. 6, 9 and 11, it will be seen that the cover 29carries an air connection 63 communicating with the tail or lower end ofthe cylinder 49 and also by way of pipe 65, is in communication with anair connecton 67 in said cylinder head 51. The connection 67 is 'incommunication with an air valve 69 mounted on the cylinder head 51.

The air valve 69 (Figs. 5, 7, 8, 11 and 12) carries an inlet airconnection 71 which is in communication with said hollow hinge bolt 27and line 25 by way of a flexible air line 73. The line 73 is of such anature and flexibility that it permits the described swinging action ofthe cover 29. It always carries an 'air pressure because it is always incommunication with the air line 13 (see numerals 27, 25 and 23).

The valve 69 carries an inlet port 75 in communication with a head endinlet passage H and a tail end inlet passage T for the "of said cylinder49. T he'head end passages Hand h communicate with said head end by wayof a passage 77, and the tail end passages I T and t communicate withsaid tail end by way of a passage 79, the connection 67, pipe 65 andconnection 63.

Lengthwise of the body of the valve is slidably placed a valve stem 81which carries an inlet recess 83 adapted to open either of the passagesH or T, depending upon its position. Alignment of the recess 83 withsaid passages H and T is effected by suitable heads 84 at the ends orstops of the valve stem which engage the body of the valve. Detentrecesses 85 and a spring pressed detent ball 87 are used to hold thevalve in its operative positions.

At each end the stem 81 is a reduced portion 88 cut back far enough toform outlet passages to communicate with the exhaust passages h and t inoperative positions of the valve stem. To eiiect an exhaust the stops 83are provided with outlets 89.

The stops 83 also function as finger control pieces for ellecting manualoperation of the valve stem. By pressing the stem to the left (Fig. 11),the recess 83 opens the head end inlet port H and the recess 87 goes outof communication with the hcad.end exhaust port 72., while the tail endinlet port T is closed and the other recess 87 goes into communicationwith the tail end exhaust port 2.

The above setting results in air passing from the line 73 to the regionabove the piston 53 in the cylinder 49 so as to press said Eiston down,while the air beneath the piston nds its way out of connection 63, line65, connection 67 and exhaust port t.

lVhen stem 81 is pressed to the right (Fig. 12), the recess 83 opens thetail end inlet port T, while the tail end exhaust port it is closed. Atthe same time the head end inlet port H is closed, while the head endexhaust port It is opened.

The above setting results in air flowing beneath the piston 53, whilethe charge of air thereabove exhausts as the piston rises.

From the above it will be seen that by manual operation ofthe valve, thepiston 53 may be pushed to the upper end of the cylinder 49 or forceddown to the lower end thereof. When it is at the upper end the lubricantfollower 59 is drawn up into the cover 29 so as to permit swinging ofthe same to open the container 5. When air is let in above the piston53, the follower 61 is pushed down against any lubricant which happensto be in the container 5 and tends to press the same into the cylinder 7when the ram 9 is drawn back. Hence positive charging of cylinder 7 iseffected for each plunger stroke.

The follower '61 comprises an open guide spider 91 (Figs. 3, 5 and 10)having arms 93 and two circular seats 95. Three of the arms 93 carrylugs 97 through which slidably pass headed studs which are screwed intoa lower sealing ring 99. This ring 99 is solid and has seats 101 adaptedto engage said seats 95 of the spider 91. The studs are designed topermit movement between the spider and ring, the heads of the studsfunctioning as limiting stops.

The spider 91 slidably fits the cylindrical container 5 in substantiallyatmospheric tight fashion (with the lubricant) not unlike an ordinarypiston. The sealing ring is substantially smaller than the bore of saidcontainer 5, or at least is not air or grease tight with respectthereto.

The action is such that. when the follower 61 is pressed down on alubricant in the container 5 by. the action of the piston 53, the spider91' and sealing ring 99 are pressed together at the seats, 95. 101,thereby forming in aggregate a lubricant-tight follower adapted to pressgrease from the container, the action of the plunger 9 permitting (seeFig. 5

)Vhenever the operator deems it necessary to refill the container 5, hereverses the pressure on piston 53 by manipulating the stem 81, therebyraising the-piston. If the follower-61 were solid, the result would be,either that an enormous pressure would be required to overcome thedownwardly directed suction and adhesion forces on the follower 61, oran abnormally large cylinder 49 would be required, or both. )Vith thepresent two-piece follower 61, the first action upon retraction (Fig.10) is that the spider 91 rises, leaving the solid ring 99 behind,adhering to the grease, inasmuch as the limited area between the seats95, 101 does not provide much adhesive force. As soon as this easyseparation is accomplished. air rushes in through the opened seats andbreaks what' would otherwise become a vacuum beneath the follower, wereit solid. The ring 99 being substantially smaller than the container 5and having an opening in the center thereof when it is subsequentlyraised permits air to enter therebeneath. Hence the retracting action iseasily accomplished without abnormal air pressure and without a largecylinder 49. The ring and spider have lost motion engagement.

The following advantages accrue to this construction (1) The largecapacity grease container, which is ordinarily a large cylinder, needsnot carry air pressure. The small supplementary cylinder 49 is betteradapted to safely carry this air pressure. In other words air isconfined to a small and safe operating cylinder and the grease containeri not a pressure container.

(2) Weight is also conserved, because it requires more weight to makesafe the large container 5, than to add the small cylinder 49.

(3) The improved form of follower 61 permits of the use of a minimumsize of c linder 49. This cylinder 49 needs not be esigned any largerthan to give the desired pressure on the lubricant. If a solid followerwere used the cylinder 49 would need to be made larger, merely for thepurpose of temporarily lifting the ollower against vacuum and adhesiveforces, although such a larger cylinder would not be needed for pressurepurposes on the lubricant or for lifting after said forces had beenbroken.

(4) By drawing the follower into the head 29 and swinging the wholepressure mechanism clear, the operator can easily refill the container.When the device is again closed automatic alignment is had because ofthe guiding of the follower into the container 5 from the head 29.

(5) The use of a pressure follower is more advantageous than to pump airdirectly into the container, because it prevents the usual tendency ofthe air to form a crater in the lubricant and short circuit directly tothe cylinder 7 This short circuiting ac-. tion has caused prior pressurepumps to continually lose their prime before all of the grease had leftthe container. Packing between the pressure tank and its head iseliminated.

It is to be understood that the use of this machine is not limited togreasing operations but that it may be applied and used with otherplastic materials, such as wet insulating material, putty or the like.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained. 7

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructionswithout departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim:

1. Lubricating apparatus comprising pumping means, a relatively largelubricant container in communication with said pumping means, aswingable cover on said container carrying a relatively small pressurecylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a rod extending from the pistonthrough said cover and carrying a follower adapted to be pressed intothe container when the cover is closed and means permitting the followerto clear the sides of the container when the follower is withdrawn andthe cover swingably opened, said follower having means for reducing theadhesive forces between said follower and lubricant when the follower iscontainer in communication with said pump ing means, a swingable coveron said contamer carrying a relatively small air cylinder, a piston insaid cylinder, a rod extending from the piston through said cover andcarrying a follower adapted to be pressed into the container when thecover is closed, means permitting the follower to clear the sides of thecontainer when the follower is withdrawn and the cover swingably opened,and means for reducing the forces vtending to hold the follower againstthe lubricant upon retraction of the follower.

Lubricating apparatus comprising a relatively large lubricant containerfor delivering lubricant, a cover on said container carrying agelatively small separate air cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, afollower in the container, means connecting the piston and follower,means for delivering air to said cylinder to advance and retract saidpiston whereby the follower is advanced and retracted and means forreducing the forces tending to resist the retraction of the fol lowerwhereby said air cylinder may be and is made smaller.

4. Lubricating apparatus comprising a lubricant container for deliveringlubricant, a swingable cover on said container carrying a separate aircylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a follower in the container, meansconnecting the piston and follower, means for delivering air to saidcylinder to advance and retract said piston whereby the follower isadvanced into and retracted from said container, means permitting thefollower to clear the container when retracted, means for re, ducing theforces tending to resist the retraction of the follower, a hollow hingebetween the cover and the container and a flexible air line from saidhinge to said air delivery means.

5. Lubricating apparatus comprising a. lubricant container fordelivering lubricant, a swingable cover on said container carrying aseparate air cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a follower in thecontainer, means connecting the piston and follower, means fordelivering air to said cylinder to advance and retract said pistonwhereby the follower is advanced into and retracted from said container,means permitting the follower to clear the container when retracted,means for re dueing the forces tending to resist the retraction of thefollower, a hollow hinge between the cover and the container, a flexibleair line from said hinge to said air delivery means,

pumping means for receiving lubricant from the container and ejectingthe same, air de,

livery means for said pumping means and an air connection between saidlast-named delivery means and said hinge.

6. Lubricating apparatus comprising a lubricant container for deliveringlubricant, a cover on said container carrying a separate air cylinder, apiston in said cylinder, a follower in the container. means connectingthe piston and follower, means for delivering air to said cylinder toadvance and retract said piston whereby the follower is advanced intothe container or retracted therefrom, means permitting the follower toclear the container when retracted, means for hinging the cover to thecontainer, said last-named means including an air transmitting -memberand a flexible line connecting said air transmitting member and the airdelivery means.

7. In lubricating apparatus, a relatively large lubricant containerhaving an exit, means for forcing lubricant to said exit comprising apiston, means for operating said piston including a relatively small aircylindcr and an air piston therein operatively connected to thelubricating piston, said air piston being double acting and means forrelieving atmospheric pressure on the piston when it is retracted fromthe lubricant.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specificationthis10th day of March, 1928.

FRANK S. BARKS.

